Rotary duplicator



Feb. 5, W35. J. K. DUNCAN ET AL ROTARY DUPLICATOR Filed Jan. 4, 1932 4 Sheets-Sheet l Feb. 5, 1935. 1 K, N AN ET AL 11,989,793

ROTARY DUPLICATOR 1710671167151 H K Duncan 1 Clzv for'd W Jbhrzsqn.

Feb. 5, 1935.

J. K. DUNCAN El AL 1,989,793

ROTARY DUPLICATOR Filed Jan. 4, 1932 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 V Clzfiord WJbhnson.

Feb. 5, 11935. J. K. DUNCAN ET AL ROTARY DUPLI CATOR Filed Jan. 4, 1932 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 J5 ,w gya wwg r Patented Feb. 5, 1935 OFFICE 1,989,293 f aomar nurprcuon' James K. Duncan and CliflordN. Johnson, Chicago, 11]., assignors to Ditto, Incorporated, Chicago, 111., a corporation of West Virginia Application January 4. 1932', Serial No. 584,642

80laims. (01. 101-132) The invention relates to rotary duplicators employing a duplicating surface for receiving an impression from a master sheet and for imparting the same to blank sheets subsequently impressed thereon.

In the above type of duplicators in order to secure satisfactory feeding operation it is necessary that the sheets be aligned with respect to their leading marginal edges to render the machine adaptablev for use withsheets of varying length. This is effectively accomplished by the provision of. a paper stop with which the leading edges of the sheets engage, and by the association therewith of feeding means having operation to insure alignment of the sheets in a manner as described.

Among the objects of the invention, therefore, is to provide a rotary duplicator which will be simple in construction, which will incorporate devices for causing positive feeding of the sheets and removal of the duplicated sheets, and wherein the structural arrangement of the parts will be such as to secure efficient and practically automatic operation requiring minimum attention from the operator.

Another object is to provide a rotary duplicator with feeding mechanism characterized by a movable paper tray functioning to contact the top sheet of the paper stock supported thereon 'with a rotating feed roller, the roller in combination with a novel paper stop serving to separate the top sheet from the remaining sheets and to present the same for a duplicating operation. The above is associated with mechanism for causing movement of the paper tray to contact the top sheet, the same automatically adjusting the height of the tray with respect to the feeding ,roller so as to compensate for the diminishing of the stock which occurs during continuous operation of the device as more particularly shown and claimed in applicant's co-pending application, Serial No. 582,901, filed December 24, 1931.

A further object is to provide a paper stop of special formation which will facilitate in the separation of the sheets.

A feature of the present invention is the association with the stop of a plate also of special formation and which is so positioned adjacent the stop as to form a slot through which the sheets are fed. The parts properly direct the fed sheets toward the margin stop and serve to hold a sheet so fed in contact therewith after positive feeding by the feeding roller has ceased.

Another object is to provide registering means including a margin stop for properly aligning the fed sheets before the same are impressed on theduplicating surface. The registration is of a character to align the leading edge with that of the duplicating surface, the margin stop being situated so that the sheet must first be positioned over an impresion roller whereby the leading portion of the same is subsequently located for engagement between the roller and the duplicating surface.

A more specific object of the invention is to provide a stop which will have movement such that the same will be automatically located in operative position, holding the fed sheet registered until the sheet is between so as to be en-' gaged by the duplicating surface and the impression roller when the stop will move to an inoperative position.

A still further object is to provide an improved form of stripping mechanism for removing the duplicated sheet from the printing surface, the mechanism being particularly adapted for association with that type of feeding means whereby the fed sheet has its leading marginal edge out of contact with the duplicating surface.

With these and various other objects in view, the invention may consist of certain novel features of construction and operation as will be more fully described and particularly pointed out in the specification, drawings and claims appended hereto.

In the drawings which illustrate an embodiment of the device and wherein like reference characters are used to designate like parts- Figure 1 is a longitudinal vertical sectional view of a duplicating machine of the rotary type showing the same constructed in accordance with the present invention;

Figure 2 is a transverse vertical sectional view taken along the plane indicated by line 2-2 of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view taken substantially through the center of the machine as indicated by line 33 of Figure 2 and showing a fed sheet in engagement with the margin stop in the rotary cylinder;

Figure 4 is a fragmentary longitudinal 'sectional view of a rotary duplicator showing several structural modifications, although the same operates broadly in a manner similar to the machine of Figure 1;

Figure 5 is a detail sectional view showing the position the parts assume when the registered sheet is engaged between the duplicating surface and the impression roller;

Figure 6 is a fragmentary elevational view takr i 1,980,798 ea en the she indicated by line H of l 'lgm'e gers 41 is formed with a plurality of co-opcrat- 4and p I 1 -ingfingerportions44spaeedsoaetofitbetween Figure 'l is a horizontal sectional view taken on the plane indicated by sine 7-7 of Figure 4 wherein the margin bar is operative position for registering a fed sheet.

The duplicator disclosed in Figures 1, 2 and 3 'is'mounted with spaced frame members .10 and 11 suitably mounted upon a base 12 so as to be held in proper reiation with each other, the members having securedthereto at one end by means of a diagona brace 13 a paper receiving tray 14 and being formed at their opposite ends to provide a support 15 having rotatably mounud therein the yoke 16 supporting for movement vertically within the spaced frames 9, paper tray 1'! to be more particularly-described. The frame members are provided with inwardly directed flanges 18 around their outer edges and have their inner opposed surfaces formed with a: plurality of bosses which provide iournalling means for rotatabiy mounting within the spaced frames the mechanism comprising the duplicator.

'ihe rotary cylinder comprises spaced end members 20 and 21, each being formed with an inwardly directed flange 22 defining their periphcries and being suitably mounted in spaced relation on the central shaft 23, supported by the frame members 10 and 11, and being located substantiahy centrally thereof. Ehd memher 20 has securedtheretoalarge gear 2i, the gear and member being non-rotatably fastened to a hub 25 having a tight fit upon the right hand end of shaft 23. The end member 21 is secured to a hub 26 by means of securing bolts 2? passing through the flange formed integral with the hub and in turn securing to the end member in spaced relation therewith a gear 23 and cam 29. The hub 26 is journaled on shaft 23 and as the latter is carried ,by the frame members it is seen that the end members fonning the cylinder are thus rotatable with respect to the frame members. The cylinder printing bed is formed'by an arcuate plate 30 providing substantially half the periphery of the cylinder and having inwardly directed ends 31 terminating adjacent tie rods 32 which extend between and connect the respective end members 20 and 21. A duplicating surface formed by a gelatin band is positioned on thepiate 30, the band at its ends being provided with retaining members 33 which fit within slots provided in one of the ends 31 of the bed, the other end being detachably secured to a rotatably mounted plate 34 joumalled on the rod 35 secured to the respective end members of the cylinder. The circular plate 34 has a tight fit on the rod 35 but is rotatable thereon, the rotation being accomplished by a key portion 36 which projects slightly beyond the end member. 21 for the purpose of stretching the gelatin band 37 over the plate 30 and holding the same in a taut position thereon.

Non-rotatably positioned on the shaft 23 an suitably spaced from each other are a pair of circular blocks 38 each receiving a split circular ring 39, one section of the ring having integrally formed therewith a projecting plate 40, the same Joining the rings and being provided at its extreme outer end with finger portions 41. Associated with the plate 40 and more particularly with the finger portions 41 is a co-operating arcuate plate 42 secured to the transverse supporting rods 43 which connect with and extend between the end members 20 and 21 of the cylinder. The end of the plate 42 adjacent the finthe portions 41. The intersection of the plates 40 and 42 provide a margin stop which, as will be clearly understood, rotates with the cylinder and has engagement with the leading edge of the fed sheet for registering the edge in ad-- vance of the same beingimpressed upon the gelatin band 37. A feature of the construction is the particular location of the plates with respect te the duplicating surface, the sameloeating the margin stop immediately in advance of the leading edge of the duplicating surface so that the stop in combination with the projecting fingers 41 determines the proper margin for the duplicated sheet.

The cylinder is rotated by means of a crank handle 45 suitably Journalled in frame 11, the

shaft 46 thereof having pinion 4'; meshing with the gear 28 so that the rotations of the crank handle are suitably imparted to the cylinder. should it be desirable that the duplicator be operated by electric means it is obvious that an operative drive can readily be established between any form of motive power and the shaft 46. The paper tray 17' for supporting the paper stock to posited en the tray. The arcuate shoulder provides resistance to the fed sheet in order to cause separation of the same from the next adjacent sheet, sufiicient resistance to the feeding being developed to overcome the friction between the sheets, and as the top sheet is positively feed it continues to ride over the shoulder and to be subsequently presented to the printing cylinder. The feeding of the top sheet from the paper stock is caused by a continuously rotating feeding roller 52 mounted on shaft 53 journalied in the frames of the machine and having mounted on one end thereof the pinion 54 meshing with a pinion 55 of somewhat larger diameter jeurnalled on the stud 56, the same projecting from the side frame 10. Asshown in Figure :1 the pinion 55 has meshing engagement with the large gear 24 secured to the end member 20 of the cylinder and thus the feeding roller is continuously driven from the rotations imparted to the cylinder. Associated with the paper stop 43 is a top plate 57 which is securely held in spaced relation with respect to the paper stop by means of diagonal end braces 58. In accordance with the present invention the plate provides a rear depending flange 60 at its other end in combination with the upper edge of the paper stop, defining a horizontal slot through which the sheets must be directed during their feeding operation. More particularly, the hori= zontal slot is designed to have a slight snubbing effect upon the fed sheets, preventing travel of the fed sheet in a direction away from the cylinder unless the sheet is positively forced in such rearward direction. For accomplishing this restraining eifect upon the fed sheet the bottom edge of plate 57 and the top edge of stop 48 are out of alignment with respect to a plane at right angles means the printing cylinder but provides a slight restraining eflcct on the sheet, preventing inadvertent rearward movement thereof. Also the structure is such as to direct the fed sheet toward the margin stop and in addition controls the movements of the sheet during the entire feeding operation. The depending flange 60 is necessary in orderto maintain that portion of the sheet confined between the feeding roller and the horizontal slot in a position adjacent the paper stock. Also the flange is of such length as to contact the sheet as shown in Figure 3, and thus maintains the sheet out of contact with the feeding roller after the tray has moved to an inoperative position.

An impression roller 62 is rotatably mounted in the spaced frames by means of a shaft 63, the roller being positioned immediately adjacent the paper stop and being adapted to contact the gelatin band 37 carried by the cylinder for the purpose of impressing a sheet thereon for performing a duplicating operation.

The feeding of the sheets to the printing cylinder is initiated through movement of the paper tray 17. The movable and of the tray is maintained in position by means of arm 64 suitably secured to the transverse shaft 65 which has suitably secured thereto at one end a ratchet member 66 having provided on its upper arcuate surface a plurality of teeth 67. The member is resiliently urged in a direction, by means of the coil spring 68 secured at one end to the member and at its other end to stud 69 projecting from the side frame 11, to maintain the tray in uppermost position, whereupon the top sheet of the stock supported thereon will contact the rotating feed roller 54. An actuating lever '70 pivotally secured at '11 to side member 11 has pivotally mounted at its upper .end a pawl '12 having a depending teeth engaging portion 73 which is resiliently urged in a downward direction, Figure 1, by means of a coil spring 74. A stop 77 is provided for engaging the end of the pawl 72 opposite the depending portion 13, which end is bevelled and thus when the same engages the stop, as the actuating lever assumes an inoperative position, it will be seen that the pawl is caused to rotate to lift the portion 73 from engagement with teeth 67 on the member 66. The cam 29- having connection and rotating with the cylinder forms the operating means forcausing actuation of lever 70, the same being provided with a recessed portion 78 but having an otherwise circular periphery adapted to engage the roller 80, suitably secured intermediate the ends of the lever 70.

With the parts as shown in Figure 1 it will be understood that the lever '70 is in inoperative position as the recessed portion of the cam isoppositexthe roller 80. As the circular periphery of the cam comes in contact with roller the lever will. ice-caused to travel to the left, Figure 1, against the tension of spring 76 and simultaneouslytherewith pawl 72 will move out of engagementwith the stop 77, thus permitting rotation of the pawl in a counter-clockwise direction, causing the depending portion 73 to engage with a tooth on the member 66. Actuation of the lever will therefore be imparted to member 66 causing a rocking oi the supporting arm 64 in a downward direction to locate the tray in inoperative position. With the Win inoperative position the feeding'operation is terminated since the feeding roller'no longer has contact with the top sheet. The structure described functions auto matically to adjust the height of the tray with respect to the feeding roller so as to compensate for the diminishing of the stock which occurs during continuous operation of the device.

Assuming that a sheet has been fed into contact counter-clockwise direction the sheet will be held in contact with the stop and will be positively forced in a direction toward the left opposite to the direction at which the sheet was fed. This reverse travel of the sheet is possible since operation of the movable paper tray is such as to locate the tray in inoperative position in advance thereof so that the feeding roller is no longer in forced contact with the sheet. The horizontal slot formed by the top plate 57 and paper stop 48 has a slight hold on the sheet, which, however, is not suihcient to prevent this reverse movement of the same. As rotation of the cylinder continues the leading marginal edge of the sheet is located over the impression roller 62 since the same is carried along with the rotation of the cylinder by the finger 41 and subsequently thereto the leading edge of the gelatin band 37 assumes a position immediately adjacent the roller thus locating the leading edge of the sheet between the roller and the duplicating surface. Further rotation of the cylinder serves to impress the remaining portion of the sheet upon the gelatin band as will be well understood in the duplicating art.

For stripping the impressed sheet on the gelatin band 37 stripping rollers 81 and 82 are provided, the latter being suitably mounted on shaft 83 having mountedon one end the pinion 84 meshing with the gear 24 carried by the cylinder. Since the leading edge of the impressed sheet is free of the duplicating surface it is caused by gravity to be projected into the path of the stripping plate 85 suitably positioned adjacent the cylinder and the stripping rollers and held in operative position by the supporting bar 86 to which the upper end of the plate is secured. As the stripping rollers have rotation from the printing cylinder they rotate continuously during the operation of the same and the function of the plate 85 is to locate between the rollers the leading edge of the sheet, whereupon the latter, due to rotation, positively strip the duplicated sheet from the gelatin surface.

In Figures 4 to 7 inclusive the rotary duplicator disclosed has essentially the same fundamental operation as the construction of machines above described with the exception that the sheets are fed to a margin stop-positioned outside of and independently of the rotary cylinder, a. feature of operation of the stop being that'the same has movement in timed relation to the rotations of the cylinder. The side frames 110 and 111 have suitably secured thereto, so as to connect the frames, a supporting member 109 to the base of which are secured the longitudinally extending supports 115 for pivctally supporting the paper tray in position with respect to the feeding mechanism. The tray designated 117 is secured at onet by the gear 124 meshing with pinion in turn' meshing with and driving pinion 152 mounted on the shaft 153.

'I'hemovable end of the paper tray is maintained in proper position with respect to the feeding roller by the supporting arm164 having securement centrally of the shaft 165, joumaled within the side frames and to which is secured the ratchet member 166 having ratchet teeth 167 formed on its upper arcuate surface. The remaining mechanism for causing actuationof the ratchet member in a manner to raise and lower the paper tray to contact the top sheet of the stock supported thereon with the rotating feeding roller in timed relation to the cylinder is not disclosed in this modification, but the same is operated by structure similar in all respects to that disclosed with respect to Figure l and further explanation 'is deemed unnecessary.

In order to more accurately direct the fed sheet toward the margin stop so that its leading marginal edge will contact therewith for registering purposes the invention provides a top plate 157 of special formation and being associated with the paper stop in a manner to provide therewith a horizontal slot through which the sheets must be directed, the slot imparting a restraining or snubbing action to the fed sheet sumcient to resist any inadvertent reverse movement of the sheet so that its leading marginal edge is held in contact with the margin stop under all conditions. The plate is held in proper position by the supporting bar 158 and has provided a depending flange 160 on its end adjacent the feeding roller for the purpose of engaging that portion of the sheet confined between the roller and the horizontal slot to control the direction of buckling of the confined portion and to maintain the same in position adjacent the stock on the tray. The impression roller 162 mounted on shaft 163 is in this modification positioned directly under the printing cylinder although the same co-operates with the gelatin band 130 on the cylinder to perform a duplicating operation in exactly the same manner as described with respect to the machine of v Figure 1. The margin bar 186 is carried by a backing plate 187 suitably secured at its lower end tothe yoke 188, the arms of the yoke being rotatably mounted within the side frames by means of the threaded studs 189 which in addition function to journal within the frames the shaft 163 of the impression roller. Formed integrally with the right arm of the yoke 188 is an am 190 having a bifurcated end for receiving the pin 191 carried by the lever 192 pivotally mounted to stud 193 projecting from the side frame 110. The end of the lever opposite the pin is provided with a roller 194 for engagement with the cam 195, the same having a recess 196 of definite contour with the remaining periphery of the cambeing circular. The cam is suitably secured to one hub portion of the cylinder and thus rotates with the cylinder to impart oscillations to the lever 192 as will be clearly understood.

This actuation of the lever through pin 191 rotates the yoke 188 in a clockwise direction to locate the margin stop in inoperative position. The yoke and margin bar are resiliently urged into an upward operative position 'by means of the coil spring 197 having connection at one end to an arm of the yoke and at its other end to stop 198 projecting from the side frame 110.

The printing cylinder is rotated manually or by motor means through rotation of the pinion 147 meshing with the gear 128 on the cylinder, thus rotating the cam 195 and as the recess 196 therein is located opposite the roller 194 the coil spring 197 exerts its influence upon the parts described to position the'margin bar above and substantially over the center of the impression roller. With the bar n this position the fed sheets of paper contact the same to align their leading marginal edges, whereupon the feeding operation ceases by movement of the paper tray to lower position, where the top sheet is out of contact with the rotating feeding roller. ,Upon the completion of this operation the margin bar is located in inoperative position, being withdrawn from engagement with the leading marginal edge of the registered sheet by engagement of the cam 195 with the roller 194 actuating the lever in a direction to impart the desired rocking movement to the yoke. The fed sheet remains in position over the impression roller since rearhorizontal slot but the fed sheet remains free for only an instant since the duplicating band is now in position where its leading edge contacts the fed sheet, holding the same between the band and the impression roller. Further rota tion of the printing cylinder serves to complete the impression of the sheet upon duplicating surace.

To cushion the movements of the margin bar the present arrangement provides an arm 200 suitably secured to the right arm of the yoke and having mounted on its outer end a roller 201. A resilient stop 202 is adjustably positioned so as to project from the side frame 110 in the path of the roller 201. This, in effect, provides a resilient stop, limiting the upward movement of the arm 200 and thus'the margin bar 186, but in addition there is associated with the arm a ward movement of the same is prevented by the bolt 203' pivoted at 204 to the side frame and being resiliently urged into engagement with the stop by the spring 205. The parts are so positioned that the arm in its upward movement first contacts the pawl 203, the same checking somewhat the movement of the arm but allowing the same to continue until engagement against the stop 202 takes place.

The positioning of the sheet upon the surface is such as to locate its leading portion over a stripping plate 206 held in contracted position by the cylinder, 9. tray for supporting sheets of paper to be duplicated, feeding means intermittently contacting the top sheet to feed the same to the cylinder, a paper stop, a plate terminating adjacent the stop and forming a horizontal slot therewith,

the other end of the plate providing a depending flange, said flange being positioned to one side of the feeding means for facilitating the feeding operation, which directs the fed sheet through the horizontal slot.

2. A rotary duplicator having a duplicating cylinder, a tray for supporting sheets of paper to be duplicated, feeding means intermittently contacting the top sheet to feed the same to the cylinder, a paper stop, a plate terminating adjacent but out of alignment with the upper edge of the stop and forming therewith-a horizontal slot, the other end of the plate providing a depending flange for facilitating the feeding operation, said sheet being directed through the slot by the feeding operation, whereby the same is held in position after the operation has ceased.

3. A rotary duplicator having a duplicating cylinder, a tray for supporting sheets of paper to be duplicated, a feeding roller intermittently contacting the top sheet to feed the same to the cylinder, and a paper engaging flange for preventing the fed sheet from contacting the roller after the tray has moved to inoperative position.

4. A rotary duplicator having a duplicating cylinder, 2. tray for supporting sheets of paper to be duplicated, a feeding roller intermittently contacting the top sheet to feed the same to the cylinder, a paper stop located between the cylinder and the tray, a shoulder on the tray against which the fed sheet engages for separating the same from the remaining sheets, and a depending paper engaging flange located near the feeding roller for controlling the movements of the fed sheet.

5. In a duplicator as described, a cylinder having a duplicating surface, said cylinder being mounted for rotation in spaced frames, an impression roller located adjacent the cylinder for contact with the duplicating surface, a margin bar mounted for movement in the spaced frames, a. paper tray located adjacent the roller and containing the sheets to be duplicated, and means operating in timed relation to the rotations of the cylinder to simultaneously locate the bar in operative position and feed a sheet from the tray into contact therewith.

6. In a duplicator as described, a cylinder having a duplicating surface and being mounted for rotation in spaced frames, an impression roller joumalled in the frames, a margin bar mounted for pivotal movement around the axis of the roller, a stop for limiting upward movement of the bar to locate the same in operative position, a cam on the cylinder, and means actuated by the cam and operatively connected to the bar for causing oscillating movement of the bar as the cylinder rotates, and means for checking the upward movement of the bar to cushion its impact with the stop.

7. A duplicator comprising a rotatable cylinder having an adhesive duplicating surface, a margin stop, an impression roller for pressing sheets of paper against said duplicating surface, a tray for holding a pile of sheets of paper, a paper stop located at one end of said tray and provided with a narrow slot extending longitudinally thereof, mechanism feeding said sheets lengthwise one by one through said slot and against said margin stop to a position wherein they are engaged by and adhere to said adhesive duplicating surface, and means to strip said sheets from said duplicating surface.

8. In a duplicator, a frame, a cylinder mounted for rotation in said frame and provided with a duplicating surface, an impression roller co-operating with said duplicating surface, a paper tray for supporting sheets to be duplicated, means pivoting said tray in said frame, a paper stop carried by said frame and normally remaining in a predetermined position throughout a plurality of duplicating operations, means for oscillating said tray, means for feeding sheets from said tray to said duplicating cylinder and said impression roller, and a member fixed with respect to said paper stop and forming a narrow elongated slot between itself and the paper stop through which the sheets to be duplicated are advanced in their travel from said tray to said cylinder and said impression roller.

JAMES K. DUNCAN. CLIFFORD N. JOHNSON. 

